Ginger came up to AICU after completing her shift in the Assessment Center to check on a patient that she had been taking care of that day. This patient deteriorated rapidly at shift change while Ginger was there. This emergency required our four AICU RNs' full attention as the patient was unstable and massively hemorrhaging.
Throughout all of the frenzy, Ginger was at the bedside holding the patient's hand and speaking to her calmly. This allowed the AICU RNs to focus completely on the medical management of the patient, knowing that Ginger was taking care of the patient's emotional needs. Ginger stayed late until about 8:30 PM, leaving only when the patient had been rushed off to the OR. I cannot tell you enough how much it meant to me as an AICU RN knowing that my patient's emotional needs were being met.
I know that I would not have been able to adequately do this due to the nature of this emergency and the concentration needed to keep this patient alive. More importantly, it meant so much to the patient and her family. They told me the next day how wonderful Ginger had been and how much they appreciated her presence during that incredibly stressful ordeal.